I wake up to someone shaking my shoulder.
[Angel 4] "Wright. Please. You have to do something about the snoring."
I blink awake. The angel looks exhausted.
[Wright] "What?"
[Angel 4] "Lucien. He's been snoring all night. It's echoing through the entire van."
As if on cue, a loud rattling snore reverberates through the camper van.
I sit up and look around the room I'm sharing with Takeshi and a few angels. Takeshi is somehow still asleep despite the noise, drooling slightly onto his pillow. The angels look like they haven't slept at all.
[Wright] "Can't you wake him up?"
[Angel 5] "We tried. He just rolls over and starts again."
Another thunderous snore.
[Angel 4] "It's been like this for years. Every expedition, every mission. And he still doesn't believe us when we tell him."
[Wright] "Years?"
[Angel 5] "We've been his party for over a decade. This is normal."
[Angel 4] "We keep telling him he snores. He keeps denying it."
From one of the bedrooms, I hear movement and muttering.
The door opens and Lucien emerges, looking refreshed and well-rested. His hair is slightly messed up, but otherwise he looks perfectly composed.
[Lucien] "Good morning, everyone! I slept wonderfully. How about you all?"
The angels in my room just stare at him with dead eyes.
[Angel 4] "You were snoring again, sir."
[Lucien] "Impossible. I was merely resting."
[Angel 5] "All night. Like a freight train."
[Lucien] "I don't snore."
[Angel 4] "You do."
[Angel 5] "Constantly."
[Lucien] "That's simply not—"
From the girls' room, the door opens. Aiko steps out looking surprisingly well-rested, followed by the female angels and Sylphaeris. They all look fine.
[Aiko] "Good morning!"
[Takeshi] "How are you so chipper?"
He's finally awake, hair sticking up in every direction.
[Aiko] "The girls' room is on the opposite end of the van. It wasn't that loud."
The male angels look at her with pure envy.
[Sylphaeris] "Though we could hear the complaints through the walls."
She's grinning, clearly amused.
[Lucien] "I still maintain that I do not snore."
[Everyone] "Yes, you do."
[Angel 4] "We've been telling you this for ten years."
[Angel 5] "A decade of this."
[Lucien] "You're all exaggerating."
Takeshi stumbles toward the kitchen area, eyes half-closed.
[Aiko] "You look like you fought another boss in your sleep."
[Takeshi] "I feel like I did."
I head to the kitchen before this conversation spirals further.
[Wright] "I'm making breakfast. Something quick."
I pull out emberbread from storage and some preserved meat. I heat the bread on the pan until it's warm and slightly crispy, then layer thin slices of meat on top. Simple sandwiches. Fast, filling, easy to eat.
I also scramble some eggs in a large pan, adding a bit of salt and herbs from the van's supplies. The smell starts to wake everyone up properly.
[Takeshi] "Food?"
[Wright] "Almost ready."
People gather around the dining table, still waking up. Lucien is trying to smooth down his hair, which refuses to cooperate. The exhausted angels are discussing whether they should risk sleeping in Lucien's room again tonight. Aiko is braiding her hair, looking well-rested and cheerful.
I serve the food. Sandwiches and scrambled eggs on plates, with water to drink.
[Wright] "So, how did everyone sleep?"
[Aiko] "Great! The beds in our room are really comfortable."
The female angels nod in agreement.
[Takeshi] "I had a weird dream about a giant turtle teaching me magic."
Everyone looks at him.
[Takeshi] "What? Dreams are weird."
[Angel 4] "I didn't sleep at all because of the snoring."
[Angel 5] "Same."
[Lucien] "I already told you, I don't—"
[All the angels] "Yes, you do."
[Angel 4] "For ten years we've been saying this."
[Angel 5] "Ten. Years."
Lucien looks genuinely baffled.
[Lucien] "I simply don't understand where this misconception comes from."
[Sylphaeris] "It's not a misconception. We could hear you from the girls' room."
[Lucien] "...Really?"
[Everyone except Aiko] "YES."
He eats his sandwich in dignified silence, though he still looks skeptical.
[Wright] "Today we're pushing to the next floor. Third floor boss, then whatever's beyond that."
[Lucien] "We should remain cautious. The difficulty has been increasing with each floor."
[Takeshi] "More monsters to fight means more levels for me!"
[Aiko] "Just be careful."
[Takeshi] "I'm always careful."
[Aiko] "You tried to punch a Thornback Beetle yesterday."
[Takeshi] "And it worked!"
[Aiko] "You got poisoned!"
[Takeshi] "Barely!"
We finish breakfast and clean up. Everyone gathers their equipment, checking weapons and supplies. The angels organize their mapping materials, though the ones who shared a room with Lucien look like they're moving on autopilot. Lucien adjusts his armor and makes sure his shield is properly secured, completely oblivious to their suffering.
[Wright] "Everyone ready?"
A chorus of affirmatives, though some are more enthusiastic than others.
[Wright] "Let's go."
---
We step out of the camper van and back into the oppressive darkness of the cave floor.
The bioluminescent glow from the stalactites casts everything in eerie blue-green light. Water drips steadily from the ceiling, echoing through the passages.
We move forward, following the main corridor deeper into the floor.
The first monster appears from a crevice in the wall.
It's a mass of crystalline formations shaped vaguely like a spider. Eight legs made of jagged crystal, a body that refracts light in unsettling ways. Each step it takes creates a sharp clicking sound as crystal scrapes against stone.
Lucien's expression hardens.
[Lucien] "That's significantly higher level than the previous floor's monsters. Be very careful."
I activate Appraisal.
---
[Appraisal]
Crystal Stalker
Predatory creature formed from concentrated mana crystallizing in deep caves. Body made of razor-sharp crystal that can cut through metal. Moves silently despite appearance. Attacks by impaling prey with crystal spikes it launches from its body. Nearly invisible in areas with refracting light. Vulnerable to blunt force trauma that shatters its structure.
---
[Wright] "I'll take this one."
The Crystal Stalker launches a volley of crystal spikes at me. They're fast.
I sidestep, and the spikes embed themselves in the stone wall behind me with enough force to crack the rock.
The creature charges, legs moving with surprising speed.
I wait until it's close, then strike the center of its body with my palm. The impact shatters the crystal structure completely. The creature explodes into thousands of glittering fragments that rain down across the passage.
Ding!
[Lucien] "Remarkable. That creature would typically require multiple coordinated attacks to break through its crystalline armor."
We continue deeper.
The next monster emerges from a dark pool of water. A serpentine creature easily twenty feet long, covered in scales that look like polished obsidian. Its eyes glow red, and when it opens its mouth, I see rows of needle-like teeth.
---
[Appraisal]
Abyssal Serpent
Deep-dwelling aquatic predator adapted to lightless environments. Scales harder than steel, nearly impervious to bladed weapons. Produces paralyzing venom that can incapacitate victims within seconds. Can sense vibrations in water from hundreds of feet away. Excellent swimmer but sluggish on land.
---
It lunges from the water, jaws wide.
I grab it mid-strike, catching it just behind the head. It thrashes violently, its body coiling around my arm, trying to crush or poison me.
I channel mana into my grip and squeeze.
The scales crack. The serpent's struggles weaken. With a final pulse of energy, I break its neck.
It goes limp, and I toss the body aside.
Ding!
[Takeshi] "That was so cool!"
[Aiko] "Are you okay? Did it bite you?"
[Wright] "I'm fine."
Further along, we encounter the third type of monster.
A hulking humanoid figure carved from stone, easily ten feet tall. Its body is covered in glowing runes that pulse with orange light. Steam rises from cracks in its surface, and when it moves, I can see molten rock flowing beneath the stone shell.
---
[Appraisal]
Magma Golem
Construct created from volcanic stone and molten rock. Core temperature exceeds 2000 degrees. Attacks generate intense heat that can melt metal and ignite surroundings. Incredibly strong and durable. Regenerates damage by drawing on internal magma reserves. Vulnerable to rapid cooling that causes structural fractures.
---
[Lucien] "Magma Golem. These are extremely dangerous. The heat alone can—"
I'm already moving.
The golem swings a massive fist at me. I duck under it and strike its chest with both palms, channeling ice-aspected mana into the attack.
The temperature difference is extreme. The stone shell cracks loudly, spider-web fractures spreading across its entire body. The orange glow dims as the internal magma rapidly cools and solidifies.
I strike again, and the golem shatters like glass, pieces of cooled stone clattering to the ground.
Ding! Ding!
[Lucien] "...You're using elemental magic now too?"
[Wright] "Just basic stuff. Seemed like the most efficient approach."
The angels are frantically taking notes, their parchment filling with sketches and observations.
We continue through the winding passages, and eventually, we reach it.
The boss room door.
Larger than the previous ones, this door is carved with intricate reliefs of underground scenes. Caves, chasms, and at the center, a massive creature that dominates the design.
[Lucien] "Everyone, prepare yourselves. Based on the pattern, this boss will be significantly more powerful."
We enter.
The chamber is enormous. Easily the size of a cathedral. The ceiling is so high it disappears into darkness. Massive pillars of stone support the structure, each one covered in those glowing runes.
In the center of the room, something stirs.
It unfolds from the ground itself. A massive wyrm, serpentine but covered in thick, overlapping plates of dark stone. Easily fifty feet long, with a head the size of a wagon. Its eyes burn with inner fire, and when it opens its mouth, I see a throat glowing red with heat.
Horns curve back from its skull, and crystal formations jut from its spine like a ridge of deadly spears. The ground trembles with each movement.
I activate Appraisal.
---
[Appraisal]
Earthshaker Wyrm
Calamity-class creature born from the fusion of earth and fire energy in deep underground chambers. Body armor can withstand siege weaponry. Breath weapon combines superheated earth and molten stone that can level buildings. Can manipulate stone and crystal within its territory, creating barriers and weapons at will. Regenerates by absorbing minerals from surroundings. Extremely intelligent and strategic fighter.
---
Lucien's face has gone pale.
[Lucien] "That's... that's a Calamity-class monster. I've only seen one of these once before, and it required three S-rank adventurers to bring it down."
[Angel 1] "We should retreat and prepare—"
[Wright] "I'll handle it."
[Lucien] "Wright, you don't understand. Calamity-class monsters are—"
[Wright] "I'll be fine."
I step forward.
The wyrm's burning eyes focus on me. It rises up, the front third of its body lifting off the ground, towering above me. The heat radiating from it is intense. The air shimmers, and I can feel sweat beginning to form.
It roars.
The sound is deafening, shaking the entire chamber. Dust and small stones rain from the ceiling.
Then it attacks.
The wyrm's mouth opens, and a torrent of molten stone erupts forth. A massive blast of superheated earth that would incinerate anything in its path.
I leap to the side. The attack hits where I was standing, melting the stone floor into a glowing pool.
Before I can counter, the ground beneath my feet erupts. Crystal spikes shoot up, trying to impale me from below. I jump again, but the wyrm is already moving, its massive tail sweeping around to crush me mid-air.
I twist, bringing my arms up to block. The impact sends me flying across the chamber. I hit a pillar hard enough to crack it, then drop to the ground.
[Aiko] "Wright!"
I stand up, dusting myself off.
[Wright] "Okay. That actually hurt a little."
The wyrm is smart. It's not just relying on raw power. It's using strategy, combining attacks, trying to predict my movements.
I channel mana throughout my body, enhancing my physical capabilities to their maximum. The world seems to slow down slightly, my perception sharpening.
The wyrm breathes fire again. This time I don't dodge. I run straight at it, weaving between the molten projectiles. They're fast, but not fast enough.
I reach the wyrm and leap, landing on its neck. It thrashes violently, trying to throw me off. Crystal spikes erupt from its scales, trying to impale me at point-blank range.
I dodge and weave, moving along its body with enhanced speed. Each crystal spike misses by inches.
I channel mana into my fist and drive it into the wyrm's skull, right between the eyes.
The impact creates a shockwave. Cracks spread across the creature's armored head.
It roars in pain and rage, slamming its head into the ground to shake me loose. I jump clear, landing twenty feet away.
The wyrm rears back, gathering power for a massive attack. The runes on the pillars begin to glow brighter. The ground trembles.
It's pulling in energy from the entire chamber, preparing to unleash everything at once.
I can't let that happen.
I dash forward, closing the distance in a heartbeat. The wyrm's mouth is already opening, molten light building in its throat.
I leap straight up, over its head, and bring both fists down on the back of its skull. Right where the spine meets the brain.
I pour everything into the strike. The impact is catastrophic.
The wyrm's head slams into the ground with tremendous force. The stone floor cracks and craters. The creature's entire body convulses once, twice, then goes still.
The glow fades from its eyes. The heat dissipates.
Silence.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
Multiple level-ups cascade through me, more than from any previous fight.
I check my status. Level 55 now. Mana: 60,000.
I walk back to the group. Everyone is staring at me with expressions ranging from shock to disbelief.
[Lucien] "You... you just defeated a Calamity-class monster. Alone. In under five minutes."
[Wright] "It was a bit tougher than the last boss. Had to actually try."
[Takeshi] "That was incredible! You were running up its body and dodging crystal spikes and—"
[Aiko] "I thought you were going to die when it hit you with its tail!"
[Wright] "I'm tougher than I look."
Sylphaeris is giggling, clearly amused.
[Sylphaeris] "The strongest amongst us is a farmer!"
The angels are silent, their expressions stunned. One of them is still holding a quill, frozen mid-note.
[Angel 2] "I... I don't even know how to document this."
[Angel 3] "No one will believe our report."
A treasure chest materializes where the wyrm fell.
We gather around it, and Lucien opens it.
Inside, there's gold. Lots of gold. Thousands of coins, more than from the previous two bosses combined.
And sitting on top of the gold are several items.
A sword with a blade that looks like solidified crystal, glowing with inner light. Lucien picks it up and examines it.
[Lucien] "Earthbreaker Sword. Can channel the wielder's mana to create shockwaves on impact."
There's also a set of gauntlets made from the same dark stone as the wyrm's scales.
[Angel 1] "Wyrm Scale Gauntlets. Provides exceptional defense and enhances physical strength."
A necklace with a ruby that pulses with heat.
[Aiko] "Fire Core Pendant. Grants resistance to fire and heat-based attacks."
And finally, a small vial filled with glowing red liquid.
[Lucien] "Liquid Mana Concentrate. Drinking this permanently increases one's mana capacity. These are incredibly rare."
Everyone divides up the gold and debates who should take which items. Takeshi claims the gauntlets, replacing the combat gauntlet he got earlier from the Duke's mansion. Aiko takes the pendant. The sword goes to one of the angels who specializes in swordsmanship.
[Wright] "What about the mana potion?"
[Lucien] "You should take it. Your combat effectiveness is our greatest asset."
I accept the vial and store it away for later.
The staircase appears, leading down to the fourth floor.
We descend.